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| Plugged In: All In One Devices |
These days, the line between the cell phone and PDA grows eternally blurry, and that tiny
handheld that used to merely make a phone call has morphed into a full-service assistant
that slips easily into your pocket. It’s hard to believe that some streamlined little units
can not only make a phone call, but serve up an MP3 for your audio pleasure, entertain you
with a game, organize your schedule, keep all of your personal data, provide you with a
spreadsheet or Word document, take a picture, or interact with other wireless devices.
Here are three PDA/cell phone combos that are worth a look, a listen and a workout.
PALM TUNGSTEN T3
This unit won’t necessarily replace your cell phone, but it adds a ton of communication
functionality in a compact package that absolutely rocks. We’re particularly taken with its
ability to stretch from portrait to landscape in the tap of a button for the viewing of
spreadsheets, Web pages and more.
The Tungsten T3’s built-in Bluetooth technology offers wireless connectivity, allowing you
to share files, photos and more with nearby Bluetooth-enabled devices. You can also wirelessly
access e-mail, dial phone numbers, send text messages and connect to the Internet using the
Palm Web Pro Browser and a compatible mobile phone.
In addition to syncing with Outlook, the T3 houses a short voice recorder for quick
messages-to-self, and comes with dual expansion slots to add memory and functionality.
www.palmone.com; $399
TREO 600 SMARTPHONE
From the QWERTY keyboard to the onboard camera, the Treo 600 packs a lot of functionality
into a tight space. The Treo lets you do e-mail and multimedia messaging, Web browsing
and more.
It hot-syncs to your computer to keep your records up-to-date and backed up, and takes dandy
little images with its camera. Add memory in the 600’s expansion slot for even more
functionality and storage.
The 600 is super-lightweight and its button functionality is easy to manipulate. But we
did find the keyboard a bit on the tiny side for our fat thumbs. Each key is slightly curved,
too, making keystroking a little slippery. It takes a bit of getting used to.
www.palmone.com; $449
BLACKBERRY 7510
It’s hard to beat the size and power in the tiny Blackberry 7510. We marveled at the phone,
e-mail, browser and organizer applications, but one generally expects those things. What we
were really taken by was its long-range digital walkie-talkie feature, its built-in
speakerphone and amazingly high-resolution color display.
We’ll always have problems with small QWERTY keyboards, but it’s almost worth developing
thumb dexterity to operate the Blackberry. It’s easy to navigate, has ample memory for
applications and data storage, and proved itself to be a trooper on the road.
www.blackberry.com; $349.99
Technophile Don Campbell lives and writes in the Pacific Northwest.
Photo by Renata Kosina
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